Thursday, 28 November 2024

Residential planning zones

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:23): My question is to the Minister for Housing. Minister, I refer to the government’s announced intention of developing a high-rise, high-density zone in the City of Stonnington and including areas of the cities of Monash and Glen Eira in a zone with a central activity centre of 12 to 20 storeys and a surrounding catchment area with as-of-right development up to six storeys proposed, and I ask therefore: is it the government’s intention to develop public housing in the zone, and if so, how many dwellings will be devoted to public housing?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:24): Thanks, Mr Davis, for enabling me to talk about the Big Housing Build and the work of the housing statement and the work as that relates to the allocation of $5.3 billion of Victorian money in addition to the funding which we have received from the Albanese government following nine years of inaction by your mates up in Canberra. But what I do want to say, Mr Davis, is that unfortunately – and you did ask a question of the Minister for Skills and TAFE earlier; perhaps it would serve your purposes and your professional development to get some skills and training on the general order – this is in fact a matter, as it relates to central activity districts and to precinct development, that sits with the Minister for Planning.

What I will do, however, Mr Davis, because we are all feeling a bit generous at this time of the year as we continue our groundbreaking work to manage and to address the challenges of the cost of living and of population growth, is go into some of the detail. I do want to correct a couple of your assumptions in that work, Mr Davis, that you have put into your preamble. Do not go and say that it is a straightforward question, because you did indulge in what I thought was about 450 words of preamble before you got to the nub of what you are after. Mr Davis, when you talk about 12 to 20 storeys, there is one example of 20 storeys – one example – and that is in Ringwood, Mr Davis. That was in fact approved by the council. That is a local government matter.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, this was a very specific question about one zone, the one that is in Stonnington, Monash and Glen Eira. This is about one zone. It is not about Ringwood, it is not about North Essendon, it is not about Moorabbin; it is about the Stonnington, Monash and Glen Eira zone. It is one question on one zone.

The PRESIDENT: The minister is being relevant to the question.

Harriet SHING: Thank you very much, Mr Davis. Clearly you do not like the answers to the questions that you are putting, not just in this place but those that are put by the current member for Brighton in the other place. When we talk about activity districts and centres, when we talk about growth and when we talk about density, we are talking about a fairer share. This is something which causes you collectively to wince because it offends you to actually contemplate the idea that there will be more growth in your suburbs.

Just a couple stats, if I may, Mr Davis: what we have seen across the areas that you and the member for Brighton are so keen to look at identifying –

David Davis: On a point of order, President, on relevance, this is nothing to do with Brighton. It is to do with Stonnington, Glen Eira and Monash – one particular zone. I just simply ask: will there be public housing that she is responsible for in that zone – one zone?

The PRESIDENT: The minister is being relevant.

Harriet SHING: Let us have a look at growth. In the three areas slated for greater density there was a 24 per cent increase in density, as distinct from Melton and Wyndham, which saw an over 400 per cent increase in planning and density.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, I have asked a very specific question about one zone, the zone that is about Stonnington, Glen Eira and Monash – nothing to do with Melton. I put it to you that that is 60 kilometres away, a very long way away, and nothing to do with this. It is about one zone. Will there be public housing – your responsibility – in that zone?

The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is being relevant to the question.

Harriet SHING: So, Mr Davis, we are talking about Stonnington. Come on down to Bangs Street. Come on down to the work that we have done to announce additional social housing to meet the needs of people who want to live in the area and who want to return to the area as part of a right of return. Mr Davis, as we work to deliver housing – unlike you, who seem to have an obsession with needing the right iPod, the right iPad, the right technology and the right sneakers to find somewhere to call home that you actually want to protect as leafy green, affluent suburbs – we will continue to work with people to make sure social housing is provided across the board.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:29): That was an extraordinary response from a minister who is clutching at straws here; this is quite desperate. I have been very clear about one specific zone. Stonnington, Monash and Glen Eira is one zone that has been announced by the government. All I am asking, and I will ask it in a perhaps a different way, is: does the government have a target for the number of public housing dwellings in the new skyscraper zone and surrounding catchment area in Stonnington, Glen Eira and Monash?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:29): Thanks, Mr Davis. You obviously watched Blade Runner – Director’s Cut, and you decided that we are going to turn into some form of Hong Kong in the 23rd century. Nothing could be further from the truth. What I am going to confirm for you, because again, it is important that perhaps you depart from this kind of litany of misinformation diatribes that you have brought to this place and every other discussion you have had, including on social media, that nobody really engages with because it is so fraught with inaccuracies – what I would say to you is that we are already building social housing in the areas that you have identified, and we are doing that because it is the right thing to do. We are doing it because people deserve to be able to live in areas that meet their needs and aspirations. Just this morning, Mr Davis – you do not want to hear about social housing. You do not actually want to hear about it.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, this was a question about whether there is a target, so if the minister can tell us: is there a target?

Harriet Shing interjected.

David Davis: Yes, it was. Do you want me to read it again? That was the question.

A member: You have had your chance. Write a better question.

David Davis: But it is a good question. Does the government have a target for the number of public housing dwellings in the new skyscraper zone and surrounding catchment area?

The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister was relevant to the question.

Harriet SHING: Mr Davis, if you actually cared even one scintilla about social housing, you would know already that as part of the Big Housing Build we are building homes in this area. We will continue to do so, and you will continue to –

David Davis: On a point of order, President, again, it was a question about a target, and she still has not responded on that matter.

The PRESIDENT: The minister’s time has expired.